Take the Right-Sized Step
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:13-14
“What’s a step that’s big enough to make an impact but small enough to be doable?”
I remember the first time I heard this question. It nearly knocked me off my feet.
Many of us want to make meaningful changes but struggle to do so. While there are plenty of reasons why we may not see the progress we hope for, the main reason why we aren’t able to move forward is that our mindset holds us back.
First, we must believe in our potential before we see any positive results. If we don’t think we’re capable of growth or success, we won’t feel any motivation to take the steps necessary to improve ourselves.
We’re on the right track once we know what we need to do. However, this is where I find we can fall victim to one of two thinking traps.
Some of us overestimate what we can accomplish with our current supply of time and resources. We have big dreams but lack a plan for getting where we want to go. Our ideas seem abstract, unclear, and ambiguous.
Others are more realistic. We know we can’t eat the elephant in one sitting. We understand that good things take time. However, we give up before the work starts because we are only interested in making progress if it comes quickly and easily.
Here’s why I love this question so much. At the same time, it forces us to think about our long-term aspirations along with attainable short-term progress. Think about some of the goals that people often set:
- “I want to lose weight”
- “I want to start a business”
- “I want to get out of debt”
- “I want to grow in my faith”
- “I want to clean out my garage”
This question can have a profound impact on each of these situations. Say you want to lose weight. What’s a step that’s big enough to make an impact but small enough to be doable? It could be anything from packing a lunch to bring to work instead of ordering fast food (unless, of course, you’re dining with us at Chick-Fil-A) or taking a 30-minute walk each day after work. Neither of these actions requires you to turn your entire life upside down, but if you commit to regular, consistent effort, you’ll notice a significant difference over time.
As you continue to think about improving yourself, look for opportunities to make small changes. It may not seem significant at first, but if you commit to consistency, you’ll be surprised at how one small daily change can produce a massive long-term impact.
“He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” – Matthew 13:31-32